Container and substance dispensing system

Abstract

A confinement structure and an actuation member that provides a system that allows for controllable deformation of a variety of containers are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system of the present disclosure provides for controllable deformation of a container such that a portion of the container acts as a wiping means to empty a substance from the container. A container that includes an indentation formed on a first end of the container and a container opening located at a second end of the container is also disclosed. In one embodiment, with the container deformed to a final position, the indentation fits inside the container opening to completely expel a substance from the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination:
 a confinement structure having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall extending therebetween and defining an interior, the distal end of the confinement structure defining an interior profile; 
 a self-supporting container having a first end, a second end, and a deformable wall connecting the first end to the second end and defining a container interior adapted to hold a substance, the self-supporting container comprising a first geometric portion formed in the first end and a container opening located at the second end, the container opening in fluid communication with the container interior, the container opening comprising a neck portion extending from the second end, the first geometric portion including a wall extending inward towards the second end of the container, the self-supporting container sized to be positionable within the interior of the confinement structure, the second end of the self-supporting container defining a container profile, and the self-supporting container having a rigid shape in an initial configuration, wherein the rigid shape comprises the first geometric portion; and 
 an actuation member movably positionable within the confinement structure, the actuation member having an exterior wall defining an exterior profile, the exterior profile of the actuation member corresponds to the interior profile of the confinement structure, 
 wherein, with the self-supporting container positioned outside the confinement structure and spaced from the actuation member, the rigid shape of the self-supporting container corresponds to the interior profile of the confinement structure, the self-supporting container having the rigid shape with no portion of the self-supporting container in contact with any portion of the confinement structure, 
 wherein, with the self-supporting container positioned within the confinement structure, the actuation member is movable between a first position in which the actuation member is adjacent the proximal end of the confinement structure and a second position in which the actuation member is adjacent the distal end of the confinement structure, 
 wherein as the actuation member moves from the first position towards the second position, the actuation member deforms the deformable wall of the self-supporting container thereby expelling the substance from the self-supporting container, and with the self-supporting container deformed to a final position, the first geometric portion fits inside the neck portion; 
 wherein the actuation member comprises a plunger, the plunger having a proximal wall, a distal wall, and a plunger sidewall extending therebetween, and as the plunger moves from the first position towards the second position, the plunger deforms the self-supporting container such that, a portion of the first end of the self-supporting container extends past the distal wall of the plunger towards the proximal wall of the plunger. 
 
     
     
       2. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation member has an actuation member diameter and the first end of the self-supporting container has a container diameter, the actuation member diameter less than the container diameter. 
     
     
       3. The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the proximal end of the confinement structure has an interior confinement structure diameter, the container diameter less than the interior confinement structure diameter. 
     
     
       4. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the first end of the self-supporting container that extends past the distal wall of the plunger towards the proximal wall of the plunger is disposed between the sidewall of the confinement structure and the plunger sidewall. 
     
     
       5. The combination of  claim 4 , wherein with the portion of the first end of the self-supporting container extending past the distal wall of the plunger towards the proximal wall of the plunger, the first end of the self-supporting container comprises a concave shape. 
     
     
       6. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein with the plunger in the second position, the substance is completely expelled from the self-supporting container. 
     
     
       7. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior profile is defined by the distal wall of the plunger. 
     
     
       8. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the confinement structure includes an open end and the distal end of the confinement structure includes an exit aperture, wherein as the plunger moves from the first position towards the second position, the plunger deforms the self-supporting container thereby expelling the substance from the self-supporting container and out the exit aperture of the confinement structure. 
     
     
       9. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the self-supporting container has a tear resistance sufficient to withstand tearing when the plunger moves from the first position towards the second position. 
     
     
       10. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the confinement structure is two components. 
     
     
       11. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the confinement structure is three components. 
     
     
       12. The combination of  claim 1 , the substance is an adhesive. 
     
     
       13. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is a coating. 
     
     
       14. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is a caulking. 
     
     
       15. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the container profile of the self-supporting container includes a first self-supporting container arcuate portion, a second self-supporting container arcuate portion, and a first self-supporting container planar portion between the first self-supporting container arcuate portion and the second self-supporting container arcuate portion, and
 wherein the interior profile of the confinement structure includes a first confinement structure arcuate portion, a second confinement structure arcuate portion, and a first confinement structure planar portion between the first confinement structure arcuate portion and the second confinement structure arcuate portion.